Combination burner equipment for rotary driers



July 31, 1951 R. c. HOPKINS 2,552,460

COMBINATION BURNER EQUIPMENT FOR ROTARY DRIERS Filed April 15, 1949 2Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

July 31, 1951 R. c. HOPKINS 2,

\ COMBINATION BURNER EQUIPMENT FOR ROTARY DRIERS Filed April 15, 1949 '2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

RoberfiCHqvkins I B Y ATIURNEYS tion chamber of .a'rotarydrierj PatentedJuly 31, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION BURNER EQUIPMENTFOR, ROTARY DRIE'RS" 8 Claims.

The invention relates generally to rotary drying equipment, and moreparticularly to an automatically controlled burner system therefor,adapted to use oil or gas interchangeably.

Prior burner equipment of this type has been adapted for using eitheroil or gas, but is not interchangeable, so that a gas burner system isnot adapted to use oil, and vice versa. Moreover, while certain of suchprior equipment has been automatically thermostatically controlled, thecomplete shutting off of the burners when a predetermined temperature isreached results in allowing the moisture content in the drier to buildup excessively before the drop in temperature is sufiicient to againturn on the burners.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel combinationburner unit for rotary driers, said unit having automatically controlledmultiple burners.

Another object is to provide a novel combina tion burner system adaptedfor use with oil or gas interchangeably;

Another object is to provide a novel combination burner system in whichthe fuel supply to certain burners is automatically controlled, but

the flow of air through all th'e'burners is continuous for supplying aconstant flow of air through the drier.

A further object is to provide'a novel combination burner unit having atleast two burners with a separate oil and'gas supply to each burner.

Another object is to provide a novel combina tion burner unit having atleast two burners with a separate oil and gas supply to each burner, anda, single automatic control connected to the oil supply of one burnerand to the gas supplyof another burner.

A still further object is to provide a novel selfcontained andself-supported burner unit which can be quickly placed in operatingposition for discharging into th'ecombustion' chamber of a rotary drier.V,

'Ihese objects, together withothers which will be apparent from thedrawings and following description, or which may later be referred to,are attained by the combinations, constructions and arrangementscomprising the present invention, as defined in the appendedclaims'.

Referring 'to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of theinvention is illustrated. by way'of example; v v j Figure 1 is a frontelevation of a novel com.- bination burner unit embodyingthe presentinvention, position for .firingj into the combus- Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the unit, showing a portion of the combustion chamber insection;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan section showing the direction of firing ofthe burners into the combustion chamber;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view partly inelevation, of one of the improved combination burners;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view thereof, as on line 5-5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view thereof, as on line6-6, Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentaryside elevation, looking toward the side oppositeto that in Fig. 4, showing the lever mechanism for adjusting the flameof the burner; and

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing a different position of adjustment.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

Referring toFigs. .1, 2 and'3, a self-contained, self-supportedtwo-burner unit is shown in position for firing into one end of thecombustion chamber 0 which communicates at its other end with a rotarydrier in a usual manner. It wi11 be understood that the two-burner unitis shown by way ofexample, and that the number of burners may beincreased as desired, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The burners are indicated generally at H) and are directed into a flaredopening H in the end wall Ila of the combustion chamber at its centralportion, for discharging a mixture of hot combustible gases into thecombustion chamber and generating heat for evaporating moisture in therotary drier connectedthereto. If desired, the front ends ofthe burnersIll may rest on an angle bracket lib secured to end wall Ila. As shownin Fig. 3, the burners l9 are preferably inclined toward each other at aslight angle so that their centerlines of discharge converge and meet ata desired point P, which may be about siX feet from the burner tips andwithin the combustion chamber.

The end wall Ha of the combustion chamber is provided above the burneropening H with an accessory airopening l2 for admitting cold air asdesired to supplement the air in the mixture discharged by the burners.'Ihisopening I2 is closed by doors, l3 which are preferably slidabletoward and away from each other in angle guideways l4 and. I5, so that agreater or lesser amount of air can be admitted to suit conditions.'I'he.airentering through the opening I2 may be induced by a suction fanif desired, and due to the fact that this cold air enters into the upperpart of the combustion chamber where the temperature generated by theburners is normally the highest, the introduction of the cold air atthis point funtions to balance the temperature in the combustion chamberand promote uniformity of temperature throughout the same.

The burners ID are supported on air supply ducts l6 which are connectedto a preferably Y-shaped branch fitting l1, and the Y is in turnconnected to the top of the vertical duct I8, the lower end of which isconnected to the discharge end l9 of a centrifugal blower 2D. The inletto the blower is indicated generally at 2| and the blower is driven ina, usual manner by an electric motor 22, the motor and fan being supprted solidly on a base 23. The vertical duct I8 is preferably connectedto the discharge end of the blower and to the Y fitting IT by means ofadjustable ring flange connections 24 which perinit a certain amount ofvertical adjustment for lining up the burners with the combustionchamber inlet port I I.

The fuel supply line to each burner preferably includes a T connection25 at the rear of the burner, and an oil pipe 26 is connected to the endof each T connection, while a gas supply pipe 21 is connected to theside thereof. The oil and gas pipes 26 and 21 extend vertically downwardas shown and the oil pipes 26 are connected at their lower ends with amain oil supply line 28, while the gas pipes 21 are connected at theirlower ends with a main gas supply line 29. Preferably each of the supplylines 28 and 29 are supported by angle brackets 30 and 3|, respectively,on a metal plate or platform 32 which is carried on top of the blowerhousing 20.

Means for controlling the fuel supply to the burners preferably includesa manually operable valve 33 in each oil pipe 26, and a manuallyoperable valve 34 in each gas pipe 21. As shown, an automatic controlvalve 35 is provided in one of the oil lines, and an automatic controlvalve '36 is provided in the gas line pipe going to the other burner.These automatic valves 35 and 36 are operatively connected by links 3!and 38,

respectively, to a small thermostatically con-v trolled motor ofwell-known construction, and the motor is electrically connected in ausual fashion to a thermostatic control switch 39 operated by apyrometer or high temperature thermometer 3911 which is located in asuitable part of the drier, preferably at its discharge end.

The control motor 40 is supported on the plate 32 and operates thevalves 35 and 36 simultaneously. Thus the blower 20 and motor 22 arecarried on the base 23 and the blower carries the control motor 40, andthe gas, oil and air pipes; and the burners 19 are carried on the airpipes. The result is a novel self-contained and self-supporting unitwhich can quickly be positioned to fire into the combustion chamber C ofa rotary drier.

. If the burners I 9 are using oil, the oil valves 33 would be open andthe gas Valves 34 would be closed, so that the oil supply to the oneburner would be automatically thermostatically controlled by the valve35, while the oil supply to the other burner would be manuallycontrolled by the valve 33 in the other oil supply pipe. If the burnersI 0 are using gas, the oil valves 33 would be closed and the gas valves34 would be open, so that the gas supply to one burner would beautomatically thermostatically controlled by the valve 38, while the gassupply 4 to the other burner would be manually controlled by the valve34 in the other gas supply pipe.

In either case when one burner is shut off by the automaticallycontrolled valve, the air blast from the blower continues to dischargefrom the burner which has been shut off and the air flows through thecombustion chamber into the rotary drier for carrying away moisturetherefrom. At the same time the other burner is manually controlled, andcan be nicely regulated to suit conditions.

Thus the novel burner unit is interchangeable for burning either oil orgas, and the burner which is automatically controlled when gas is usedis manually controlled when oil is used, and vice versa.

Referring to Figs. 4-8 of the drawing, each combination burner l0includes a substantially cylindrical housin 42 having a closure plate 43secured to its rear end by bolts 44 and screws 45. The front end of thehousing has secured thereon a substantially conical nozzle portion 46 bymeans of bolts 41, and the nozzle portion has a central dischargeopening 48. An air inlet 49 is provided at one side of the housingadjacent its rear end, for receiving the air blast from the air pipe l6which is screwed into the annular flange portion 50 of a blast gatehousing 51 secured to the housing 42, as by screws 52. A blast gate 53is slidably mounted within the housing 5| for adjustably regulatin theair blast entering through the opening 49, and a, rod 54 is secured tothe blast gate by means of a bracket 55 for adjusting the blast gate,there being a handle 56 on the outer end of the rod and a set screw 5'!for holding the rod in any adjusted position.

The fuel supply connection 25 has the oil pipe 26 screwed thereinaxially of the burner, and the gas pipe is connected at right anglesthereto to the opening 58. This T connection is carried on the rear endof a gas conduit 59 extending axially through the burner housing 42, andthe conduit 59 is slidable through the boss portion 60 of the rearclosure plate 43. An oil pipe 6| extends axially through the gas pipe 59and communicates with the oil pipe 26 at the outer end of the Tconnection 25.

An atomizing barrel indicated generally at 63 is screwed on the frontend of the gas conduit 59 and secured in position by lock nut 64.Preferably the atomizing barrel is provided with two diametricallyopposite tangential inflow ports 65 which are at the outer ends ofspiral passageways 56 communicating with the interior of the atomizingbarrel at openings 61. The front end of the atomizing barrel convergesto form a conical discharge portion 68 which terminates within thedischarge opening 48 when the atomizing barrel is adjusted forwardly, asin Fig. 4.

Preferably, the atomizing barrel is provided with guide lugs 69 whichare slidable back and forth on the interior annular surface 10 withinthe housing. The convergent discharge portion 68 of the atomizin barrelmay have outer radial ribs H on which is mounted an annular deflectingring 12 by means of screws 13, and the ring 12 forms an inwardlydirected annular air passage 14 around the conical portion 68 of thebarrel. As the barrel is adjusted rearwardly, another annular airdischarge passage is formed between ring 12 and discharge opening 48 innozzle 46.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the air entering through opening 49 flows aroundthe atomizing barrel 63 and some of it enters tangentially through the"ports 65 into the atomizingbarrel andsets up a spiral flow thereinwhile intermixin with the as enteringth-rough conduit 59 or the oilentering through the pipe 5|. Part of the air flows forwardly past theports-65 and then inwardly within the ring 12 and meet the air-fuelmixture being discharged out of nozzle 68 substantially at right angles,to further atomizethe mixture being discharged from theburner, andproduces a hot flame indicated at F which approaches completecombustion. When the barrel is adjusted rearwardly, the annulardischarge .outside ring 12 provides an additional atomizing effect.

By extending the oil pipe 6| axially through the gas conduit 59 andterminating the oil pipe 6!, about half way between the end of the gasconduit and the atomizing' barrel, as shown, either gas or oilcan beatomizedand burned in the burner, and if it is desired to burn both oiland gas simultaneously in the burner this can be done without having onefuel interfere with the burning of the other.

The whole assembly of the oil pipe 6|, gas con- ,duit 59 and theatomizing barrel can be adjusted back and forward in the burner housing42 to control the length and spread of the flame F.

This adjustment is accomplished by means of a :hand'lever' 'M-"Which'ispivotally mounted on a bracket 15 attached-to the rear plate 43 of theburner. In' Figs. 4 and-7, the lever is in upright position and theburner is in its closed position; that is, with the atomizing barrel atits farthest forward position. In Fig. 8 the lever is shown pulled backto move the gas tube 59 with the oil pipe BI and the atomizing barrel 63rearwardly to open position, in which the flame F is elongated and theburner is in its maximum capacity position.

As best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the lever 14 is pivotally connected at16 with the front corner of a sector 11, the rear corner of which ispivoted at 18 on the tube 59. Thus, as the handle is rotated rearwardlyabout the bracket 15, the point 16 rotates rearwardly downward and movesthe pivot 18 rearwardly, which causes the tube 59, pipe 6| and atomizingbarrel 63 to move rearwardly within the housing 42. The handle 14 isprovided with a ratchet pawl 19 which engages the toothed portion 80 ofthe sector to hold the handle in adjusted position.

I claim:

1. Combination burner equipment for rotary driers including a base, ablower supported on the base, a vertical air pipe connected to thedischarge end of said blower, a branched fitting carried on saidvertical pipe, burners supported on and connected one to each branch ofsaid fitting, vertical gas supply pipes connected one to each burner andextending downwardly toward said blower, vertical oil supply pipesconnected one to each burner and extending downwardly toward saidblower, a manually operable valve in each of said gas and oil pipes, anautomatic valve in one of said gas pipes and an automatic valve in oneof said oil pipes, and a thermostatically controlled motor operativelyconnected to said automatic valves and supported on said blower.

2. Combination burner equipment for rotary driers including a base, ablower supported on the base, a vertical air pipe connected to thedischarge end of said blower, a branched fitting carried on saidvertical pipe, burners supported on and connected one to each branch ofsaid fitting,

6 eachburner and extending downwardly toward said blower, a manuallyoperable valve in each of said gas and oil pipes, an automatic valve inthe gas pipe leading to one burner and an automatic valve in the oilpipe leading to the other burner, and a thermostatically controlledmotor operatively connected to said automatic valves and supported'onsaid blower.

3. Combination burner equipment for rotary driers including a base, ablower supported on the base, a vertical air pipe connected to thedischarge end of said blower, a Y branch fitting carried on saidvertical pipe, two burners supported on and connected one to each branchof said fitting, vertical gas supply pipes connected one to each burnerand extending downwardly toward said blower, vertical oil supply pipesconnected one to each burner and extending downwardly toward saidblower, a'manually operable valve in each of said gas and oil pipes, anautomatic valve inone of said gas pipes and an automatic valve in one ofsaid oil pipes, and a thermostatically controlled motor operativelyconnected to said automatic valves and supported on said blower.

4. Combination burner equipment for rotary driers including a base, ablower supported on the base, a vertical air pipe connected to thedischarge end of said blower, a branched fitting carried on saidvertical pipe, burners supported on and connected one to each branch ofsaid fitting,

manually operable valve means mounted on each burner for regulating theflow of air into the burner from the branch line connected thereto,vertical gas supply pipes connected one to each burner and extendingdownwardly toward said blower, vertical oil supply pipes connected oneto each burner and extending downwardly toward said blower, a manuallyoperable valve in each of said gas and oil pipes, an automatic valve inone of said gas pipes and an automatic valve in one of said oil pipes,and a thermostatically controlled motor operatively connected to saidautomatic valves and supported on said blower.

5. Combination burner equipment for rotary driers including a base, ablower supported on the base, a vertical air pipe connected to thedischarge end of said blower, a branched fitting carried on saidvertical pipe, burners supported on and connected one to each branch ofsaid fitting, an axial fuel tube in each burner, a T connection on therear end of said tube, gas supply pipes connected one to each Tconnection and extending vertically downward, oil supply pipes connectedone to each T connection and extending vertically downward, a manuallyoperable valve in each of said oil and gas pipes, an automatic valve inone of said gas pipes and an automatic valve in one of said oil pipes,and a thermostatically controlled motor operatively connected to saidautomatic valves and supported on said blower.

6. Combination burner equipment for rotary driers including a base, ablower supported on the base, a vertical air pipe connected to thedischarge end of said blower, a branched fitting carried on saidvertical pipe, burners supported on and connected one to each branch ofsaid fitting, a fuel tube slidable axially in each burner and projectingbeyond the rear end thereof, lever means on each burner for slidablyadjusting the fuel tube therein, gas supply pipes connected one to eachprojecting fuel tube and extending vertically downward, oil supply pipesconnected one to each projecting fuel tube and extending verticallydownward, an automatic valve in one of said gas pipes, an automaticvalve in the oil pipe 'leading to the other burner, and athermostatically controlled motor operatively connected to saidautomatic valves and supported on said blower.

7. A combination oil and gas burner including a tubular housing, adischarge nozzle on the front end of said housing, an atomizing barrelwithin the front end of said housing and having tangential air inletports, said housing having a side air inlet, a gas conduit connected tothe rear end of said barrel and extending axially through the rear endof said housing, means slidably mounting said barrel and said conduitfor axial movement in said housing, a T connection on the rear end ofsaid conduit for connection with a gas supply line and an oil supplyline, and an oil pipe extending from said T connection axially throughsaid gas conduit the atomizing barrel intermediate the ends thereof.

8. A combination oil and gas burner'including a tubular housing, adischarge nozzle on the front end of said housing, an atomizing barrelwithin the front end of said housing and having tangential air inletports, said housing having a side air inlet, a gas conduit connected tothe rear end of said barrel and extending axially through the rear endof said housing, means slidably mounting said barrel and said conduitfor axial movement in said housing, a T connection on the rear end ofsaid conduit for connection and terminating within 8 with a gas supplyline and an oil supply line, an oil pipe extending from said Tconnection axially through said gas conduit and terminating within theatomizing barrel intermediate the ends thereof, and a lever pivoted onsaid burner housing and having a linkage connection with said conduitfor adjustably sliding said conduit and atomizing barrel axially of saidhousing.

ROBERT C. HOPKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,241,135 Mastenbrook Sept. 25,1917 1,649,745 Schellens et a1. Nov. 15, 1927 1,703,635 Ranson Feb. 26,1929 1,777,337 Tally Oct. 7, 1930 1,781,174 Greenfield Nov. 11, 19301,786,901 Doherty Dec. 30, 1930 1,819,459 Doherty Aug. 18, 19311,840,744 Scott Jan. 12, 1932 1,863,391 Bluemel June 14, 1932 1,976,162Debuch Oct. 9, 1934: 2,066,524 Gehnrich Jan. 5, 1937 2,164,954 StephensJuly 4, 1939 2,204,719 Zink June 18, 1940 2,412,990 Kruse Dec. 24, 19462,432,525 Kruse Dec. 16, 1947

